Restaurants expanding offerings to diversify revenue

February 2, 2023

Well over a half of U.S. restaurants, 87%, plan to expand non-core offerings, such as cooking classes and retail goods, in a quest to diversify revenue and…

Why Slapfish founder created a seafood chophouse

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Celebrity Chef Andrew Gruel, who founded Slapfish and sold it last year, has returned his focus to seafood dining with the opening of the Calico Fish House — a…

Papa Gino's, D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches raise $204K for charities

January 31, 2023

Papa Gino's Pizzeria and its sister company, D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches, has donated $204,735.82 to local organizations through a number of campaigns…

3 ways to build a profitable restaurant by staying true to your values

Norman Wu, CEO and co-founder of Conscious Hospitality Group, which owns Just Poké, describes how he doubled the brand's presence while paying higher wages…

Nominations open for FastCasual's 2023 Excellence in Food Safety awards

January 31, 2023

Nominations close Feb. 28. Wingstop was the winner of the 2022 Excellence in Food Safety award, and past winners have included Panda Express, Chipotle and…

Donatos partners with Habitat for Humanity for 2nd year

January 30, 2023

Fast-casual pizza brand Donatos has partnered with Habitat for Humanity for a second year, according to a press release.

Mongolian Concepts CEO forms restaurant brand platform

January 27, 2023

Gregg Majewski, CEO of Mongolian Concepts and formerly the COO, CFO and CEO for Jimmy John's, has created Craveworthy, a parent company overseeing Wing It On…

Paris Baguette, Lavazza offering 'authentic Italian coffee experience'

January 27, 2023

Paris Baguette is partnering with Lavazza to create an authentic Italian coffee experience at its 100-plus locations nationwide

Wing It On moving up the pecking order with growth plans

January 26, 2023

Fresh off a year in which it grew by 70%, Waterbury, Connecticut-based Wing It On is adding a location to the Orlando metro area, which joins a ghost kitchen…

What Is Artificial Intelligence, And How Does It Impact Your Point-Of-Sale?

AI has become increasingly engrained in the modern technology we use every day, from our smartphones to our point-of-sale (POS) systems. Incorporating AI POS…

Blaze Pizza's growth accelerated by openings, franchise agreements in 2022

January 25, 2023

Blaze Pizza opened 13 restaurants and signed seven multi-unit development agreements in 2022. The development agreements over the past 12 months will add 2…

Ellianos opening 31st location

January 24, 2023

Ellianos Coffee, a southeastern-based drive-thru coffee franchise, is opening its 31st location Friday. The store is located in Carrollton, Georgia, at 14…

How to build brand momentum, strong culture

January 20, 2023

Building a top-notch brand is key to any restaurant's success. Customers relate to a brand, and it affects how they feel about they experience they have when…

Pizza Brands to Watch in 2023

We are honored to introduce the 2023 class of “Pizza Brands to Watch” and we look forward to finding out who makes future lists.

Presented by Mountain Mike's Pizza

Tony Roma's, Duck Donuts, Tropical Smoothie among CEOs closing Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit attendees will learn about Tony Roma's transition into the fast casual market, Duck Donuts' growth strategy and…

How Grégoire retains customers despite inflation

January 17, 2023

The French-inspired fast casual brand has survived plenty of economic uneasiness. Owner Gregoire Jacquet reveals how.

BurgerFi landing at Newark airport

January 17, 2023

Florida-based BurgerFi is opening this year inside the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

A Tale of Two McDonald’s: How Different Locations Impact Visitor Patterns

To understand more about the impacts of location, Near looked in depth at the two most popular McDonald’s for Javits Conference Center visitors. We looked into…

Mr Pickle's makes Arizona debut

January 16, 2023

Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop has opened its first Arizona-based location, in Scottsdale, at 10701 N. Scottsdale Road

Pieology expands Idaho footprint

January 11, 2023

Pieology opened a restaurant in Kuna, Idaho, on Tuesday. The pizzeria is owned by Laurie and Rob Wylie and Michael Gordon, according to a press release.